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Kumotawa Confluence, My Urban Fantasy Set In Modern Japan Is Finished!
Wow! It has been a long haul to finish this novel, but it is done. This is my second completed novel and third completed book (I have a…
Cover Designs For Kumotawa Confluence, A Japanese Urban Fantasy Novel
Sword Princess battles evil forces in a magical modern Japan! That would be a headline tag for my novel, but it stars an ensemble cast that ...
Urban Fantasy Novels, Anime, Games Set In Japan
Urban fantasy is very common in Japanese pop culture. There are popular literary novels, light novels, manga, anime, and video games, all fe...
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While I wrote Kumotawa Confluence, my urban fantasy novel set in modern Japan. I also tried out various ways to visualize the environment an...
My Writing Methods For My Novel Kumotawa Confluence
I completed the draft for my second novel, Kumotawa Confluence, last month. There wasn't a big celebration or fireworks - but there should b...
My Novel Kumotawa Confluence Is On The Home Stretch
While I'm not blogging or working, I've been writing my second novel, Kumotawa Confluence. It has been a long haul on this project as it ha...
Piranesi: A Modern Fantasy Classic?
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My Top 5 Urban Fantasy Anime
I love urban fantasy and I also love anime. So what could be better than urban fantasy anime? Here are 5 I happen to enjoy.
Urban Oasis: How to Enjoy a Swimming Pool in Japan
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13 Contemporary Fantasy Anime With Magic in a Modern World
There is magic in a good chunk of anime these days. While there is certainly some charm to enjoying fantasy anime set in a fantasy land filled with…
A Certain Magical Index, Blood Blockade Battlefront, Flying Witch, The Irregular at Magic High School, Witch Hunter Robin
This Fantasy just Set a New Standard
SUMMONING FANTASY FANS GOOOOOO!!!!!!!! Also, Witch Hat Atelier's pretty fire. You should go read it. 0:00 Intro 1:39 Plot 4:19 Magic 6:45 Art 7:57 Fantasy #anime #videoessay #WaifuBait #witchhatatelier #fantasy #magic
Even Urban Legends are Scarier in Japan 2!
Every year I do an Even X is Scarier in Japan post during October: Even Urban Legends are Scarier in Japan Even Creepypastas Are Scarier in Japan Even…
Rōnin: Why Being a “Masterless Samurai” in Modern Japan Sucks
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Workshop - Gendering War & Peace in Modern Japan
In this workshop, Dr. Barbara Molony (Santa Clara), Dr. Sabine Frühstück (UCSB), Dr. Sharalyn Orbaugh (UBC), and Dr. Hillary Maxson (Oregon) present their recent research and discuss the…
That Combini Life: Convienence Stores in Modern Japan
Convenience stores ("combini") in Japan are everywhere. But what do people use them for? A look at combini and everyday life in Japan.
Urban Exploring in Takeo, Saga
An abandoned onsen exhibition reflecting the results of the Third Impact in Saga, Japan. After having a fabulous day in Fukuoka exploring local shrines and temples, seeing the…
Magic From The Margins: HIGH SPIRITS NEOMA’s supernatural urban fantasy
For this week's Magic From The Margins, we explore the exciting and terrifying supernatural urban fantasy High Spirits Neoma.
Eastern Wisdom in a Modern Context
The wisdom of Japan and China remains valuable for us today. Like the wisdom of Stoicism, we can look toward the past for lessons on how to live…
How To Set Up Utilities In Your Apartment in Japan
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Cautionary Kappa Folktales and Modern Japan
Discover the mischievous water-dweller believed to inhabit Japan's swamps, lakes and rivers.
Creating a Classic JRPG in the Modern Era: An Interview with Final Fantasy Creator Hironobu Sakaguchi
"I write a certain amount every morning, but I do it while I'm engaging in "gameplay" within an imaginary world."
Samurai Cultivator: the Birth of Modern Apple Cultivation in Japan
Apples, such as the delectable fuji, are ubiquitous in Japan. Yet cultivation of the fruit began relatively recently - during the waning days of the samurai.
Tamura Toshiko: The ‘New Woman’ Feminist in Early Modern Japan
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Japan and South Korea: what makes them unique?
Japan and South Korea are longtime rivals that appear alike; but if you scratch beneath the surface, you'll find that they're very different. Here we look at their…
Japan and South Korea: what makes them unique?
Japan and South Korea are longtime rivals that appear alike; but if you scratch beneath the surface, you'll find that they're very different. Here we look at their…
In/Spectre – The Birth of a Modern Ghost
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10 Unique Character Shops in Tokyo
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What’s your favorite anime set outside Japan?
Favorite directly adapting a foreign work? Favorite anime set outside Japan? How has anime gotten better at depicting outside cultures? Where can it still improve?
Yu-Gi-Oh! English Dub set the tone for Modern Anime Adaptions
RIP Kazuki Takahashi. Last summer, Internet Pitstop and I talked about a wide variety of topics ranging from retro anime, to fashion, video games, to balancing content creation with…
Centaurs Manga Creator Ryo Sumiyoshi on Fantasy in Feudal Japan
Although we often think of centaurs as strictly Western creatures, manga has its fair share of centaurs. Even within that body of work, Ryo Sumiyoshi's Centaurs stands out…
Secret Urban Legends GN
Have you heard the story about the abandoned house where a girl still waits for her friends to finish their game of hide-and-seek? And what if mosquitos can…
Ink & Passion: Modern Women Writers Who Changed Japan
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Digimon in the Modern Era
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United In Stormwind Set Discussion
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Abortion In Japan: A History
A look at how abortion in Japan evolved throughout the ages, from a financial necessity to a call for the acknowledgment of women's rights.
Fruits Basket – 57 – Caught Up In a Fantasy
“I wonder how much time and effort it’ll take for you kids to find your answers…” Those are the words Kyouko said to a young Kyou. The answer?…
More Scary Japanese Urban Legends
Discover chilling Japanese urban legends. From the haunting Cow Head to eerie phantoms, delve into these modern scary tales.
OtakuGeneration (Show #470) Urban Square
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Every RETCON in Modern Dragon Ball
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Modern Transience in ‘The Morning Schedule’
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A Weekend in my Life (in Japan)
While the vast majority of my uploads these days are my diary entries instead of travel posts, I recently realised that I could make things even more personal.…
Mob Psycho 100: A Modern Classic
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Cyberpunk Edgerunners Is A Modern Classic
Cyberpunk Edgerunners after a year is still a beloved and recognized anime while only having 10 episodes. Not only becoming a modern classic, but also becoming one of…
Kuro | A Modern Classic Mystery Manga
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OmOneko Review – A unique, mysterious take on catgirls
There aren’t many notable pieces of Western media featuring catgirls, and in all corners of the world, they’re often portrayed as submissive, tacky, lovey-dovey anime girls who happen…
Win A Unique Samurai SENDAN no ITA Keyring
Our friends at KATCHU JAPAN are delighted to offer 3 lucky winners a choice of three designs of SENDAN no ITA Keyrings, with FREE shipping worldwide. For your…
MAPPA: A look at a modern anime studio
Written by Saumar Praan Saikia MAPPA (Maruyama Animation Produce Project Association) is a Japanese animation studio founded in the year 2011. It was founded by Masao Maruyama, who…
Putting the ‘Zen’ in Zenless (Zone Zero) – ZZZ’s Urban Exploration
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[Analysis] Natsume Yuujinchou: A Place for Yokai in the Modern World
Natsume Yuujinchou, crunchroll.com By: Peggy Sue Wood | @pswediting Note: Hello, Everyone! So, last summer I took a special course on anime and Japanese culture. During that course, I completed…